Taking a taxi in another country is not always as simple as giving that New York whistle from a sidewalk -- illegal cab drivers may overcharge you or fake taxis may take you somewhere you don't want to go; waving cabs down isn't always the best option. Read:
Find a Taxi Stand
You can usually find a taxi stand on the street in any country -- even if you can't read the words, you'll notice taxis congregating near the sign. Generally, only taxis authorized to carry passengers are allowed to stop at these taxi stands, meaning the taxi is as safe as that country mandates, and the taxi driver licensed and therefore (probably) honest. Look for these taxi stands at airports, too: don't let aggressive drivers or their "helpers" steer you into a cab without sussing out the scene first.If you feel confident that every taxi on the street in a foreign city is legit or at least safe, wave an arm, or hold up a hand like you're testing the wind, while facing traffic, and an empty taxi will pull over. Sometimes, simply standing at a wide spot in the street will cause a cab to pull up -- you can wag a finger (think "no-no") in some countries, like Mexico, to politely indicate you don't need a taxi.
Sharing Airport Taxis
Part of staying safe and saving money in a foreign taxi is choosing the right taxi -- don't jump in an airport cab without first knowing taxi rules for travelers. That said, you may walk out of an airport and be instantly surrounded by folks who want to push you into mini van taxis with other tourists. This may be the cheapest way to go -- look around and see what other tourists are doing if you don't know what the taxi sharing scene is in that particular country.Look for uniformed airport employees, too -- they may be queuing up legit taxis in which you can share rides. You may be the first or last to get dropped off, but everyone's fare will probably be the same.
Airport taxi fares -- In some cities, as is done in New York, taxi fare from the airport into a city center may be set ($45 in NYC). You're most likely to get the fairest fare if you use an airport taxi queu and a legitimate taxi.
Negotiate Taxi Fare First
Foreign taxi drivers are not out to rip off traveling Americans; it happens, though -- learn by studying the top ten ways to avoid being ripped off in a foreign taxi. If you *are* ripped off in a taxi, try not to sweat a buck or two. More bucks? Learn what to do. More importantly? Learn how to avoid it altogether.
How Much to Tip Taxi Drivers
In some countries, you don't need to tip a taxi driver at all -- it isn't expected. Ask around when you get to your hostel or hotel, or ask a local at the airport; they don't mind telling you what's up -- you wouldn't mind if a tourist asked you, right? If you don't know what to tip a taxi driver, ten percent is always a safe bet. If you don't want to tip because you had a terrible or overly expensive ride, tell the taxi driver why you aren't tipping. And prepare for a possible torrent of abuse.Reporting Taxi Trouble
When you get into a legitimate taxi, you'll probably see a sign of some kind affixed to the back of the front seat or the plexiglass seperating front from back. The sign should give you an idea of whom to contact in case of trouble, like overcharging -- if nothing else, you'll probably see the name of the taxi company of which your cab is a part.Don't hold your breath waiting for a refund -- in fact, it's usually easier just to pay and walk away a little poorer, but a little wiser, than to bother trying to report fraud. Make a note in your journal, though, and write to the American embassy in that country when you get home, which may pass your complaint on -- no governing authority in any country wants to see tourists having taxi trouble, and you'll be doing other travelers a service.
Don't Be Afraid
Hailing and taking a taxi for the first time, especially in another country, can be intimidating. You may have no idea what to expect to pay, and you are, after all, getting into a car with a stranger. Remember that your taxi driver is just a local making a living, not a stranger ready to rip you off or worse -- in fact, some taxi drivers, like those in central London, are some of the friendliest folks around, and a taxi ride can be a whole lotta fun. In one of my first cab rides ever, my driver told me he was from Mars. A cabbie in Dallas made my day when I didn't have the full fare to an expensive hotel and regaled me with tales of extremely rich Texans all the (free) way there.If you strike up a friendly relationship with a cabbie, he may become a great source of info. At the least, he can give you inside tips on seeing the sights; at the most, you can arrange for him to give you a local's insider tour when he's off duty (usually for a very decent price). And if you get a great cabbie, do the tip thing well, like 15 or 20 percent.
